Audiopile Review: NUG caught our attention with 2023’s “Napping Under God,” a glitchy feast of breaks and dubby beats. A year later they return with Bong Boat, the German duo has been building upon their past work, enveloping it in a deep, murky shroud that leans evermore into the ambient tendencies only hinted at before. Hazy synths distort our vision like heat waves over a placid lake, beaming down on us before pulling us under the surface, treating our senses to a world of bubbling textures and dub-inflected bass lines weighed down in the depths. Dank, buried breaks will likely give Ilian Tapes aficionados plenty to sink their teeth into, and the immersive, all-encompassing ambiance will surely put pressure on the inner ear of any Gas fan. NUG’s use of environmental storytelling through various field recordings further draws us into their lazy lake retreat. The chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects stir us on the surface before we are submerged once again. Relaxed as it is, Bong Boat never stops shifting and evolving, making for a subtle yet addictive experience that begs for repeated visits, revealing new layers and textures with every listen. Hop aboard, take a hit and sink into the haze.

NUG is the musical collaboration of artists Jordan Juras aka PVAS and Florian T M Zeisig. They previously released their debut album Napping Under God on 3XL (2022).

Recorded February 2022 in Hinang, mixed November 2022 in Berlin.